Control of the relative axial position of members such as the rotor and stator of a turbine



July 20 1926.

1,593,031 I C. A. PARSONS ET AL CONTROL OF THE RELATIVE AXIAL POS IEIBERS SUCH 5 TH TOR AND STATOR BINE iled March 28 3 Sheets-$11051, 1.

ITION OF OF A TUR 1925' /NVFN7'0Sx QHARLEs ARons HEeswmzv BZAOZENSUQY Lows, M. Owens July 20 1926.

A. PARSONS ET AL TIVE AXIAL POSITION OF MEMBEHS SUCH C. CONTROL OF THE RELA AS THE ROTOR' AND STATOR OF A TURBINE 7 F l March 1925 3 Sheets-Shoat 2 E? EH 1 -vE-ro2 s= CHAELESA- PAIZ$ONS mwm o 1.,BIZACKEHI50RY koms M, OOU6LA$ Hm a l-Has.

July 20 1926. 1,593,031

Cl. A. PARSONS ET AL CONTROL OF THE RELATIVE AXIAL POSITION OF MEMBERS sucn AS THE ROTOR AND STATOR OF A TURBINE Filed March 28. 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented July 20, 1926.

UNITEDQSTATVES PATENT/OFFICE.

CHARLES ALGERNON PARSONS, HEREWAR-D IRENIUS BRACKENBURY, AND LOUIS MORTIMER DOUGLAS, OF NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE, ENGLAND; SAID BRACKENBURY AND SAID DOUGLAS ASSIGNORS TO SAID PARSONS. i

ooiwrnon on THE RELATIVE AXIAL rosIrIoN oE MEMBERS soon AS THE no'ron' Aim 1 s'rnron on A TURBINE.

Application filed March 28, 1925, Serial No. 19,123, and in Great Britain "April 25, 1924.

The invention relates? to the control of therelative axial positionof members such as the rotor andstator of aturbine, though likewise applicable to other rotary devices.

Ina turbine, for example, of the axialflow type, it is in some cases necessary in order to securethe' highest efiiciency thatv the rotor and stator should be run with a minimum of axial blade clearance while vwith many forms of dummy, gland or other packings in which the clearance is variable or adjustable by axial movement, the same requirement occurs. H

Owing to differential longitudinal expansion of the rotorand stator due to temperature changes or to other causes, such as unequal longitudinal strains arising from changes of load, the axial clearances, in order to provide a margin of safety, must not be reduced below a certain minimum which is greater than desirable for efliciency in working, and the main object of this invention is to enable machines of the kind in 1 question to be operated with smaller axial clearances than heretofore without danger ofthe parts concerned fouling when operating conditions change. r

7 With such an object The invention consists in the combinatiens of elements hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying draw- 1ngs:-- v p Figure 1 shows-indiagrammatic form a longitudinal elevation of a-turbine partly.

in section illustratingthe principle underlying one form of the invention,

Figures 2 and 3 being corresponding del tail views showing respectively forms of end-tightened blading and of labyrinth] packing suitable for use in conjunction with the turbine of Figure 1, whilev i Figure 4 shows a longitudinal elevation partly in section of a turbine embodying the principle shown in'Figure 1;" p Figure 5 is diagrammatic view of a'modification, while i Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view similar to Figure 1 of another modified form of the invention, and 1 V bodiment.

Similar partsin; the difi'erent figures are designated by the same reference symbols while in all the figuresfthe steam is supposed to flow through theturbine from left to right, 1

In carrying the inventioninto eli'ectin its simplest form as applied, for example, to an axial-flow, pressure-flow turbine as shown diagrammatically in Figure 1, the turbine rotor,,a,' being subjected to a unidirectional axial thrust'as indicated bythe arrow, the rotor, a, is provided at each end, and beyond the range of the usual co-acting rings of stator and rotor blades or axiallydisposed packings, b, b, with a collar, 0, 0, coacting respectively with corresponding abutments, d, cl,'formed on thestator, e, so that these devices serve as locating devices to determine the relative longitudinal positions of the rotor and stator.

;Typical examples of the relative disposition of bladesand packings constituting cooperating elements carried by the rotor and stator and suitable for this form of the-invention areshown in Figures 2 and 3.

In Figure Q, the stator and rotor blades are indicated by fand h, respectively, endtightening packing, F, on the stator blades, co-acting with her, it, on the rotor blades whileend-tightening packing, 723, on the rotor blades, It, co acts with an abutment, f, on the stator blades. Relative movement of the statorto the left or of the rotor to the right would in this, case increase the clearances.

Similarly, p of the stator to the leftor of the rotor to the right, will increase the clearance between the axially-disposed-knife edges, 71, of the stator packing pieces, i, and the rotor barrier members, is, withwhich they co-act.

It is assumed in the followingdescription that the bladesin Figure 2 are sub shown by the arrow so that the left-hand faces of, the two rotor collars, 0, a, are 0peran abutment or barrier mem in Figure 3, relative movement I ative and the blade and packing clearance tend to diminish. In such a case, supposing the clearances to be a minimum when the machine .is running under normal conditions of working and that the operative face of each thrustcollar, 0, 0', co-acts with the corresponding abutment, d, d, on the stator, c, then ifrthe rotor expandsto -a' greater extent than the stator, the left-hand thrustblock alone remains operative, the left-hand face of the right-hand collar, 0, moving from its co-acting stator abutment, d. In other words, the rotor expands to the right so that" axial clearances are all increased. If on the other hand the stator expands to greater extent than the rotor, then owing to the longitudinal force acting on the rotor the right-hand thrust-block remains opera tive and the left-hand block, becomes inoperative, the stator expanding to the left and thereby again increasing the clearances concerned. The thrust-blocks as regards axial location. therefore act alternatively and automatically in response to changes in temperature conditions, the axial. force on the rotor in the example shown in Figure 1 being. a factor in their desired action.

From another point of view it will be seen that if the axial blade clearances at any time are greater than the minimum permis- ,sible and by differential change of axial dimensions of the rotor and stator due to temperature changes such clearances decrease, a compensatory relative axial displacement of rotor and stator automatically occurs so as to increase the blade clearances when the permissible minimum is reached.

In certain circumstances the above action may be reversed by interchanging the axial positions of the rotor and stator members between which the small clearances exist, so that under differential expansion the above devices will then act to prevent increase of clearance.

In actual practice it is necessary in addition to provide means for preventing the movement of the rotor to the right, (e. g, in Figure 1) when, for example, steam is shut off and the axial thrust on the rotor removed. This is accomplished according to one form by providing comparatively light springs acting on the member or members coacting with the righthand surfaces of one or other or both of the thrust collars; such springs are designed to act solely as 10- cators and are not of sufficient strength to take the axial thrust.

Thus, referring to Figure 4, in which is shown a ra-ctical embodiment of the principle exp ained above, the left-hand face of the collar, 0, at the steam-end of the turbine co-acts with the pads, m, of a thrust-block enclosed in the housing, 12, and adjusted by means of the packings, 0', in relation to the stator extension, 6, so that the blade clearances are a minimum under normal conditions of working. The right-hand lace of the collar, 0, on the other hand co-acts with bine, corresponding parts at the two ends of i the turbine being denoted by the same referencesy-mboll.

It will be seen that with the construction described, ii" the rotor expands more than the stator, taking as a datumthc position in which the axial clearances are a minimum and both thrust-blocks operative, the steamend thrust-block alone is operative to take thrust, while if on the contrary the stator expands more than the rotor in the same circumstances, the exhaust-end thrust-block alone is operative, the minimum clearance increasing in both cases.

According to a modification or" the above, one or other of the thrust-blocks may be made double-acting, i.. e. capable of taking the axial thrust in both directions.

According to one form of. such a modification, as shown diagrammticlly in Figure 5, strong springs, s, 5-, arranged in suitable recesses in the stator body, are provided between each side of the left-hand thrust collar, 0, and the stator abutmcnts. Thesecond thrust-block is preferably singleacting, as indicated, its essential elen'ients being initially in contact or provided with a small clearance. lVith such an arrangement, other parts being as described in the first form of the invention, it the rotor expands more than the stator, it is free to expand to the right and so increase existing clearances, but if the stator expands more than the rotor, it first reduces existing clearances by the amount of the clearance, if'any,.in the single-acting thrust-block and then expands to the left, compressing the right-hand springs, s, and increasing all clearances. In this case the axial force on the rotor may be arranged in either direction, so that it tends either to increase or decrease axial clearances, but it is preten ably dispensed with and the rotor balanced.

A further modification of the invention is indicated diagrammatically in Figure -15. In this case the direction 01"" the axial thrust on the rotor is from left to right as shown by the arrow. The left-hand collar, 0, of the rotor instead of co-operating directly with the stator is associated therewith through the intermediary of a thrust-receiving member, t, which is pressed to the left against an appropriate abutment in the stator by the strong spring, it, through which the thrust is normally transn'iitted to the stator and its foundations. Supposin operative contact with abutment, and liners,

ing the rotor expands more than the stator, the right-hand face" of the collar, '0, of the rotor being maintained against the intermediate member, t, by. reason ofthe axial thrust, the left-hand face of the right-hand collar, 0, will move from its corresponding abutment,'the clearance of blades or packings being thereby increased. Supposing, on the other hand, the stator expands more than the rotor, the stator abutment will be the left-hand face of the right-hand collar, 0, the stator exe panding to the left so as to, compress the spring, a, and produce a clearance between the left-hand faceof the intermediate meme ber, 25, and its corresponding stator abutment. f

The principle exemplified'in Figure 6 is embodied in a practical "form in Figure 7.

The steam-end thrust-block is in this case double-acting, thrust pads being provided on each side of the collar, 0. In the posi tion of minimum clearance between the blades or thelike the position of the thrust housing, a, in the stator extension, 6, is determined by suitable packings,'0, therebetween, while other packings, 0, at the right-hand end are provided'with the necessary amount of clearance. Rods, 'v, o, extend from the thrust-block housing through the end of the extension to a crosspiece or yoke, w, strong springs, a, being inserted between the cross piece and the end Keyed or otherwise secured to the projecting ends of these rods, are worm wheels, :12, w, with-which co-aot worms on the transverse spindle, z, operated by the handwheel, 2.

The collars, 22 are normally out of contact with the casing end plate, 6 and the initial compression of the springs, u, to overbalance the steam thrust on the rotor. and hold the thrust housing, n, against its 0, is obtained by the nuts, m the worm wheels, 00, 00, acting as washers. '1

The thrust-block at the exhaust end is single-acting with suflicient clearance provided on the right-hand side of. thecollar,0.

In order to provide for adjustment, a worm wheel, 3, is disposed between flanges, 4: and 5, on the stator extension, a threaded portion of the hub, 6, of the worm wheel co-acting with a correspondingly threaded part of the thrust-block housing By this means housing can be adjusted while theturbine is running. 2

If the rotor relatively lengthens, the collar, 0, moves out of contact with its co-acting stationary members and the collar, vc, determines the relative axial position.

of the thrust-block housing of the extension as shown. 9

If on the other hand the rotor relatively shortens, both collars, 0,

tive but the thrust housing, 12, is moved to the right, further compressing the springs, u. In both cases the axial clearances of the turbine blades and the like are increased. If it is desired to reduce the blade ;or

like clearances temporarily, for instance for rods, o, *0, by thehandwheel, 2, will there-v fore cause their screwed ends to alter the position of the housing, a, and the rotor.

In all cases the thrust-receiving springs should be initially compressed to such an extent that they do not yield under the actual pressure of the thrust. I

If desired any suitable means may be provided for indicating which thrust-block is in operation, as, for example, tempera- 0, remain operature-indicating apparatus, electrical means 1 or otherwise. e 1 I It will be understood that while one type of thrust-block has been illustrated, any suitable type or any suitable alternative means for determining the relative axial position ofthe relatively rotating bodies may be employed. I

It will also be evident in addition that many variations can be made in the particular forms and arrangements ofthe other parts described above, the scopeof the invention being wide enough toinclude all such variations and also to include the application of the invention to rotary machines other than those specifically referred to above.

Vi e claim 1. In combination, relatively rotatable machine members; and means for relatively 2. In combination, relatively rotatable machine members; co-operating elements carried thereby; and means axially spaced apart for relatively locating said members with said co-operating elements disposed therebetween, said locating means acting alternatively in automatic response to certain diflerential changes in the axial dimensions the axial position of the thrust-block i of said members.

3. In comb nation, relatively rotatable coaxial machine members and means for relatively locating said members axially, said locating means'acting alternatively in autollll) axial machine members; co-op'ratin" mcnts carried thcrcbv; spaced apart for 1-4 members vv 1d cooperatin vv cen. said loca t; 1:; anti 'elatively loca said thrust to certain Y In con i nation, machine members; co carried there ly prevent said co-ope a nnnnnun bearings beis ax to cor dimein 7. In combination, relatively rotatable machine members, one of which is sr c a uni-directional end thrust, and r relatively locating said members lly acting alternatively in automatic response to certain dillerential changes in the axial dimensions of said members, the action of said locating means depending on said uni-direc tional thrust as a factor.

8. In combination, relatively rotatable machine members; and means for relatively locating said members axially, said locating means acting alternatively in automatic re sponse to dirl'erential changes in the axial dimensions of said members due to certain temperature changes.

9. In combination, relatively rotatable machine members, relatively axially movable in response to certain temperature changes, and thrustbearings acting alternatively in cooperation therewith for relatively locating said members axially.

10. A turbine, comprising in combination, relatively rotatable bladerarrying members and means for relatively locating said mem bers axially, said locating means acting alternatively in automatic response to certain differential changes in the axial dimensions of said members.

11. A turbine comprising in combination, stator and rotor members; blades carried thereby; and means axially spaced anarttor relatively locating said stator and rotor members with said blades disposed therebetween, said locating ieans acting alternatively in automatic response to certain differential changes in the axial dimensions or said members.

a r r 12. i turbine comprising in combination, relatively rotatable blade-carrying members; and thrust bearings for relatively locating said members axially, said thrust bearings acting alternatively in automatic response to dil'l'erential changes in the axial dimensions of said members the to certain temperature changes.

iii. A turbine comprising in combination, and rotor members; blades carried y; and means automatically prethe axial clearance between said decreasing belovv a minimum, said including thrust bearings for relaively locating said stator and rotor axially k, alternatively in response to certain cinerential changes in the axial dimensions oi" said members.

ll. A turbine comprising in combination, rice and rotor members, said rotor memg subjec' to a uni-directional end and means for relatively locating tor and rotor axially act-'ng alternatively in automatic response to certain d t tial in the axial dimensions inen'ibers, the action of said locating depending on said uni-directional as a factor.

A turbine, comprising in combination, relatively rotatable blade-carrying members and means relatively locating said memr axially, said locating means acting atively autoir ic response to diilerential changes in the axial dimensions of said members true to certain temperature changes.

iii; A turbine, comprising in combination, stator and rotor members having co-aeting thrust-receiving surfaces atone end of said turbine and other co-acting thrust-receiving surfaces at the other end of said turbine, and blades having a certain axial clearancecarried by said stator and rotor members and disposed between said thrust-receiving surfaces at the tvvo ends of said turbine, said hrust-receiving surfaces and said blades on aid stator member bein imilarly disposed 

